Consider that, today, more than 70% of Americans use social media—up from only 5% tallied in 2005, according to the Pew Research Center. A handful of key players in the space continue to rule. Social Media Examiner's "2017 Social Media Marketing Industry Report" revealed that the top platforms used by marketers are Facebook (94%), Twitter (68%), LinkedIn (56%), Instagram (54%), YouTube (45%), Pinterest (30%), and Snapchat (7%). So what's in stor for 2018?

Endeavor Details Meridian Usability Initiative

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Endeavor Information Systems has announced details of recent user-focused design activities instrumental in the creation of the company's Meridian product developed for efficient, effective management of electronic resources. This new usability initiative is intended to bring user-centered design practices into the development process for Endeavor systems and offers libraries improved staff workflows and more intuitive user interfaces.

As part of the Meridian usability process, Endeavor software development professionals and human-computer design experts visited eight separate libraries in the United States and United Kingdom, including academic, corporate, and specialized research libraries. At each library, Endeavor observed staff members as they completed common tasks associated with eresources. As the testing participants executed tasks, Endeavor's team noted areas in which the user struggled, asked questions, or clicked on wrong buttons. The usability tests suggested interface adjustments and design changes that helped to create a Meridian interface that is designed to intelligently present all of the information necessary to manage eresources.

First announced in June 2004, Meridian is available to libraries using Endeavor's Voyager integrated library system as well as libraries using other vendors' ILS products. Development of Meridian is on track for a June 2005 general release. Available at a discount for current and new Endeavor customers through June 30, 2005, Endeavor Meridian is designed to provide eresource information to the library's users while alleviating the problems of the back-office administration of these materials. Meridian became available for purchase Jan. 1, 2005. To date, two libraries have contracted with Endeavor for Meridian.

Four key development partners are advising Endeavor on the development of Meridian: Columbia University Libraries, New York, NY; the Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science, London, England, the University of Pittsburgh University Library System, Pittsburgh, PA; and the Princeton University Library, Princeton, NJ.(www.endinfosys.com)